Method of filling and sealing bottles, vessels, and the like



NOV. 29, 1932. ,Q BHMER ET AL 1,889,629

METHOD OF FILLING AND SEALING BOTTLES, VESSELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Jan.17. 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Mmm ffm um w O gmsfml Nov. 29, 1932. A.BHMER am.

METHOD OF FILLING AND SELING BOTTLES, VESSELS, AND THE LIKE 6Sheets-Sheet v2 Filed Jan. 17. 1930 u n u li b mgl'ln Nov. 29, 1932. A.BHMER ErAx. f 1,889,529

METHOD 0F FILLING SEALING BTTLES, VESSELS, AND THE LIKE Filed aan. 17.195o s sheets-sheet s ffy] NOV. 29, 1932. A BHMER E1' AL 1,889,629

HETHOD OF FILLING SEALING BOTTLES, VESSELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 1f?.1930 e sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 29, 1932. 1,889,629

METHOD OF FILEIN AND SEALING BOTTLES., VESSELS, AND THE LIKE A.' BHMYRETAL Filed Jap. 17. i930 e sheets-sheet 5 Nov.. 29, l1932. A. -BOHMERETAL 1,889,629

METHOD OFjFIIJLING AND SEAIJING BOT'ITL/ES, VVEISSELIS, AND THE LIKEFiled Jan, 17. 1930 e sheets-sheet 6 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE u ADAM. BHMER AND GEORG GBHARDT, OF BAD XRE'UZNACH,GERMANY, .ASSIGNORS TO SEITZ-WERXE G. M. B. H., OF BAD KREUZNACH,GERMANY, A CORPORATION METHOD OF FILLING AND SEALING BOTTLES, YESSELS,AND THE LIKE Application led January 17, 1930, Serial No. 421,545, andin Germany July 19, 1928.'

The invention relates to sa method and apparatus for filling and sealingvessels, particularly bottles, cans' and similar articles such aspackages and the like, so as to exclude an 0 alrea y been proposed toeffect and maintaingerms, the sterilization, filling and sealing beingperformed in germ-free chambers.

Bottle cleaning machines are already known in which the bottles arepassed through spaces of tunnel or chamber type in the course of thetreatment. These machines, however, merely effect a thorough cleansing,but in no case do they bring about a sterilization followed by fillingand sealingso as to exclude germs. Sealing machines are also known inwhich the filling and sealing of the vessels is performed in theinterior of enclosed spaces, for example in the case of machines forfilling canned goods. Such machines also have no appliances forsterilizing the said spaccstheir sole object being-to exclude the outerair or produce different conditions of pressure. in the interior of thesaid spaces. It is true that methods and means are falso known whichenable filling and sealing to be performed in such a way as to excludegerms. These, however, are only adapted for manual operation andhandling small quantities, but unsuitable for automatic power-operatedplants such as are now gener'- ally employed in large up to date worksin continuous operation. The size of the plant makes it necessary forthe various apparatus for sterilizing, filling and sealing the vesselsin a germ-free manner, to be set up at considerable distances apart,with correspondingly lon passages through which the articles have to econveyed from one apparatus to another. Experience has shown that, inthe case of large plants, the known measure of closing the mouths of thevessels by means of flat covers, or by means of surfaces ast which 4themouths of the'vessels are move in sliding contact, are insuflicient,since these covers themselves do not remain permanently free from germsand, moreover, they leave the parts round the mouths of the vesselsunprotected. That such parts must certainly also be kept free from germsis essential because .the come into contact with the filling and sea'ing devices, and therefore any mfectlon` present could be transmittedfrom one vessel to another. In order to ensure the exclusion of erms infilling bottles etc. on a large scale b exclusively mechanical means, ithas sterilization and fill and sealthe vessels so as to exclude germs inthe interior of a closed chamber filled with ozonized or germ-free airat a slight positive pressure in relation to the outer air and intowhich the vessels to be sterilized are introduced throu h a lock, andfrom which they are removed t rough a lock after being filled and sealedAlthough this method assures reliable operation on a continuousmanufacturing scale, it presupposes that the mechanical appliances willoperate in alperfectly automatic and smoothly running manner, so thatthe intervention of the Y attendants will rarely be needed, if at all.In the other contingency, the high ozone content of the air in thechamber might be injurious to the working staff and besides,`the risk isentailed of the operatives themselves introducing germs which might iindtheir way into the sterilized vessel or the sterilized substances to befilled therein. An apparatus adapted to be suitable for all conditionsmust therefore be required to be reliable in operation, whilst at thesame time, all the parts must be so readily accessible that the ai'endants can intervene in the event of any trouble occurring. Theinvention fulfills these requirements com letely and enables the.vessels to be filled an sealed in a germ-free manlner on the largescale in entirely automatic mechanical plants presenting themaximum ofaccessibility in the event of trouble.

The, essential character of the invention consists in that the mouthsand neighboring parte of the vessels or the vessels themselves rom thcmoment they are sterilized until they are completely sealed, are movedall the time and unmterruptedly in the interior of hollow spaces whichare formed of surfaces or walls of any convenient shape 'and extent andcan be ke t free from germs inside. In order to fulfill) the purpose ofthe invention it is firstly necessary that the conveyor devices whichtransport the vessels from the sterilizer to underneath the fillingmachine lifts the sterilized vessels from the sterilizing apparatus .tothe conveyor carrying the vessels to the filling and sealing apparatus,is completely enclosed in a box-like casing which has only two openings,for the insertion and removal of the vessels, one of said openings beingin communication with the sterilizmg chamber. According to theinvention, the vessels placed on the conveyor (belt, chain or likeconveyor) are covered, before leaving said casing, with hollow covers ofthe lid, hood or bell type, in such a way asalso to protect the partsadjoining the mouths of the vessels from contact wit germs, which coversare not taken oi again until the moment the vessels come into positionunder the filling apparatus, which also is protected from the access ofgerms by bell or hood-like coverings or screens. The filled vessels alsoare transported, with the same measures of precaution to the sealingmachine, where they are provided with a germproof seal.

lt is desirable that the sterilized bottles should be freed fromresidual traces of the gaseous sterilizing medium, such as sulphurdioxide, by scavenging them with a germ-free inert gas prior to beingfilled. According to the invention this is accomplished by blowing suchinert gas through the bottle for some time under pressure and allowingit to escape into the air.

The remainder of the gas is then used as preure gas, for lling thebottle with the liquid under isobarometric conditions, in the knownmanner. The displaced scavenging gas is preferably passed through water,in order to extract the contained sterilizing medium.y The scavengingoperation is performed-at the' stage in which the return air pipe isemptied, 1n known manner, -of the ascending sur lus of filling liquid(so-called rinsing llquidg).

The filling liquid, scavenging gas and rinsin liquid'arecontrolled by asin le cock.

e crown corks serving to sea the bottles are usually sterilized in adrum and are then passed through the sorting device into a channel whichfeeds them in succession to the point on the sealing machine at whichthey are to be used. This method is attended with the risk of the corkscoming into contact with the air, in the channel, and collectingexternal germs which afterwards nd their way into the bottles sealedwith such corks. This defect is obviated by the Subj ect of theinvention.

In thismethod, the crown corks are steri,

lized, as heretofore, in the storage drum and after they have passedthrough the sorting device and reached the channel leading to thesealing machine they are again thoroughl sterilized, preferably on theirinner surace provided with the cork disc which fits on to the mouth ofthe bottle. With this object, .the crown corks are passed, at one ointof the channel, over one or more nozzles,

rom which a finely atomized sterilizing liquid is blown on to the innersurface of the corks. Since the metal rims of the crown corks bearagainst the channel, the deposition of external germs on to the corkdiscs subsei ent to this -final sterilization is prevente In addition,the walls of the channel are also sterilized by the shallow pans of thecrown corks iilled with the linely atomized sterilizing medium so thatall risk is precluded.

, A typical embodiment of the whole ap aratus is illustrated in theaccompanying diawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of theentire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the sterilizingmachine along the line a-az of Fig. 3, which latter is a plan of theplant. Fig. i is a cross-section through the covering device on a largerscale. Fig. 5 is a detail of the filling apparatus, also on a largerscale. F ig.6 shows, on a larger scale, the filling machine itself andFig. 7 a filling unit with the various pipe connections. Fig.

8 is a section through the cock, and Fig. 9 the cock casing, as asection along the line -A of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectionalView through the lling tube. Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show the severalsections through the five adjacently disposed bores in the spigot of thecock in three different working positions and Fig. 14 shows a planeprojection of the outer surface of the cock spigot. Fic. 15 shows theapparatus for sterilizing tie corks. Fig. 16 is a partial sectionthrough the'corresponding atomizer and Fig. 17 is a view of the channelwhich guides the crown corks.

Referring in the first place to Figs. 1-5, 1 denotes the apparatus forsterilizing the bottles. The bottles are laid on a bucket chain and areintermittently rinsed out, at a number of points, with a germicideliquid and are also sprayed externally with a germicide liquid. Thesterilized bottles are transferred, by a conventional form of transferdevice 2 on to a conve or belt 3 which transports them underneat thefilling machine 4 and sealing-machine 5. The devices 1 and 2 arecompletely enclosed in a box-like' casing, which has only an opening at6 for inserting the bottles and another at 7 through which p they areremoved. At the moment of leaving the casing thebottles standing mouthupwards on the conveyor belt are covered by n. belt 8 of rubber or otherelastic material and of channel cross-section. The belt is endless andtravels over two pulleys 9 and one or more carrier or jockey rollers and11, the rate of travel being the same as that of the conveyor 3. Thebelt therefore fits with the two arms of the U hanging downwards so asto cover the mouths of the bottles and travels with the bottles untilthe latter come into position under the filler 4 and its covering 13. Inorder to keep the belt8 free from germs, it is passed through a bath ofgermicide liquid and is sprayed with the same liquid through douchesornozzles. It is therefore sterilized at each revolution before beingagain used for covering the mouths of bottles. The filler is providedwith coverings 13 which prevent germs from gaining access to the mouthsof the bottles until the latter are secured in position under thefilling device 16, 17 and 18. The filling tube 16 and the centering cap15, are provided with a bell cover 14 which prevents any access of germsto the filling tube. The centering caps 15 are guided freely in the bell14, a close fit k beingobtained between them by means of rubber washers23. The bell 14 is connected to the tube 36 by means of a tube 14a whichis provided with a capillary opening (Fig. 6). In this manner asufficient quantity of a germ-free gas is passed under pressure to theupper part of the bell, and by means of this pressure preventing theentrance of germs from the air'. to vessel. Otherwise a vacuum would becreated at the vessel and as a result the filling liquid would beagitated. Through this constant passing of sterile gas under apredetermined pressure the building Vup of a vacuum is prevented, Thefilling liquid issues from the tube 16 at a point 24 low down on oneside, the lower end of the tube being closed by a cap 25, thu-spreventing the access of germs. By referring to Figurev 10, it will beseen that the outlets 24 are enlarged, the large o enin being intendedfor the discharge o the uid, while the small opening services fordischargling or scaven ing gas from the container. he

filled vbottes then pass once more under thev fixed covering 13 abovethe conveyor 3 and are transported to the sealing machine 5. The sealingdevices in this machine are also Yprovided with a screen 21 whichprevents germs from dropping into the bottles. The screen is connectedwith a tube 21a, through which is passed a certain amount of germfreeair under pressure, thereby preventing the enterin of air into thescreen. The filled and sealed ottles jare removed from the conveyor beltat 22.

he invention is not',- however', restricted to the example illustratedbut numerous modifications and other embodiments are possible. Forexample, the bottles might be con-` veyed :fromV the sterilizer to thesealing machlne through an enclosed passage into which germ-free aircould be blown from the one side so that no germs could find their wayinto the interior of the passage. It is also possible to replace such aclosed passage by channel coverings the depending sides of which engagebelow the mouths of the bottles. There might also be provided under-.tical direction. At each revolution thecaps can be sterilized byrinsing them out with,

a ger'lnicide solution before being applied to. fresh vessels. It' isalso possible to make the covering capsules of cheap material, such ascrepe paper, these being then sterilized in any nown manner and slippedover the mouths of the vessels and, afterwards on reaching the fillingmachine, being removed by any convenient means such as suction, blowingor the like. The filler may also be of different design by surroundingall the fillers with a single bell below the bottom plate of thecontainer in place of the numerous separate bells.

The filling machine according to Figs. 6-14 is constructed in thefollowing manner:

The sterile filling liquid is admitted into the stock vessel 29 by wayof the pipe 26,

'stuffing box 27 and pipe 28. The vessel 29` is provided with aplurality of outlet branches 30 leading to the filling units 31.

The inert as, such as carbon dioxide, for scavengin t e gaseous mediumpresent in thebottle 1s passed through the pipe 32, stuffing box 33 andpipe 34 to a pressure Vessel 35 connected to the lling units 31 by thepipes 36.- The return air is passed through the pi es 37 connecting thefilling units 31 with t e s ace 38 above the filling vessel 29.

Between t is space 38 and the vessel29 is a filtering layer 39 whichprevents germs from entering the filling liquid Vby way of the returnair ipe 37.

In ad ition, the space 38 communicates with the outer air by Way of thepipe 42 and cock 43, a filtering layer 40 being, however, provided inorder to prevent germs being carried into the apparatus by the airentering from the outside. v

The return air pipe 37 does not open directly into the space 38 but intoan annular receptacle 41, w ich is disposed inside 38, is open at thetop and is ada ted to catch any .traces of liquid enterinca rom the pipe37. By means of a pressure-balancing and liquid discharging pipev (notshown), this receptacle 41 is connected with a collecting channel 44which is shut off from the outer air and serves at the same time tocollect the rinsing or drip liquid from the pipe 37. There .is also asec- 'bottle with the return air pipe 37.

outside.

ond receptacle which is connected with the discharge pipe 46 and ispartially filled with water. r[he discharge pipe 46 forms a conductorthrough which blow ofi" gases from the bottles passes into the waterreceptacle 45. The mouth of the pipe 46 dips below the level of theliquid in 45. Consequently, the gaseous medium expelled from the bottleby the inert gas cannot escape into the outer air until it has. passedthrough the water in 45 and thus been freed from any soluble matterspresent.

The spigot ofthe filling cock, is represented in Figs. 8, 9 and 11-14,and is provided with five bores adjacently disposed on planes at rightangles to the axis of the cock and connected to the various conduits.The one connected with the bore 65 serves to admit the filling liquidinto the bottle 47, while the adjacent bore 50 on the one side admitsthe scavenging gas into the bottle and the adjacent bore 66 on the otherside connects the When in the operative position the bore 59 connectsthe bottle with the receptacle 45 in order to allow the gas in thebottle to escape to the The fifth bore 62 serves to convey the rinsingor drip liquid from the pipe 3 into the receptacle 4 4.

The apparatus operates in the following manner: The vessel, such as abottle 47, to be filled is pressed in an air-tight manner by any knownmeans a ainst the filling unit 31, the cock being at rst set with its.several bores in the position shown in Fig. 11, all the openings beingtherefore closed. Said cock may be manually or otherwise rotated lduring the operation. When` the bottle is fixed in position, the cock isturned into the position shown in Fig. 12 so that, in the first place,the pressure vessel 35 is placed in communication with the passage 51 ofthe mount 52 of the filling tube, by way of the pipesy 36 and 37 and thebore 50 of the spigot 48,so that the inert germ-free gas from the vessel35 can enter the bottle by way of the lpipe 36 and the second bore ofthe cock. The gas fiows through the outer passage 53 of the filli ingtube 54 (Fig. 10) and enters the bottle at the lower end. The gas expelsthe gaseous medium in the bottle in the upward direction into the bore55 .andv then through the bores 56, 57 and 58 in the cock casing intothe bore 59 ofthe spigot, Jfrom which it passes through 46 into thereceptacle 45, where the injurious vapours are absorbed leaving theremainder of the-gas to escape into the outer air.

In this second position of the spigot 48 the return air pipe 37 is atthe same time placed in communication-through the bores 60 and 63 of thecasing, the angular bore 62 and transverse passage 61 of the spigot-withthe pipe 64 (Fig. 7), which leads to the receptacle 44 and is connectedwith the bore 63 of the cock casing.. Consequently the return air pipe37 also is freed from liquid and is able to convey the return air to thevessel 29 during the immediately subsequent filling of the bottle.

rlhe filling is effected by turning the cock into the third position(Fig. 13). The central bone 65 then admits the liquid from the vessell29 directly into the filling tube 54 and thus into the bottle 47. Thereturn air from the bottle iows through the passage 68 of the fillingtube, the passage 67, the bore 66 of the spigot and passage 60 into thereturn air pipe 37 from which it passes into the filtering chamber 38between the filtering layers 39 and 40. The surplus air (inert gas) fromthe bottle forces its way through the filtering layer 40 and escapes tothe outside through the pipe 42 and cock 43. When the bottle is full thecock is turned'into the first position (Fig. 11) again, and the bottlecan be removed and replaced by another. The apparatus can be equippedwith any convenient number of fill-ing units andthe bottles may be fedinto and removed from the machine automatically, if desired, and thecontrol of the cock can be combined with the 'insertion and removal ofthe bottles.

Figs. 15-17 show the apparatus for sterilizipg the corks, especially theso-called crown cor s.

The crown corks are placed in the hopper 71 in known manner and stirredaround with a pre-sterilizing liquid "by means of a drum rotated by theshaft 72.1 They then descend,

in known manner, through a sorting devlce into the chute 73 which feedsthem at 7 4 to the operative position in the sealing machine.

At one point, preferably in the vicinity of the hopper 7l, a number ofnozzles 75 are provided which are connected to a vessel 76 containing asterilizing liquid. The orifice of the nozzles may be adapted to becontrolled by the needle valves 77. The chute 73 containing the crowncorks 78 is provided at the point opposite the nozzles with a broad slot79 so that the liquid sprayed by the nozzles 75 is distributed over thecrown corks, the cork discs of which face the nozzles. In this way eachcork is again sterilized with the finely distributed sterilizing liquid,especially on its inner surface and remains sterilized until finallysecured on the bottle. Since, during their further progress through thechute, their rims remain in contact with the walls of the latter, theinterior space of each crown cork containing the cork disc 80 remainsfilled with the sterilizing vapours, thereby assuring complete freedomfrom germs until the bottle has been sealed.

The means controlling the injecting nozzles may also be different fromthat shown and the successive nozzles may be of any desired number.

If desired a further device may be rovided by means of which thedischarge o liquid from the nozzles may be controlled in accordance withthe intermittent forward movement of the crown corks in the chute, thenozzles being closed so long as the corks are 1n motion and opened whenthey come to rest. An automatic device may also be provided for shuttingofi' the n ozzles when the entire machine is at a standstill.

We claim:

1. A method for the sealing of bottles, vessels and the like in acontinuous 'manner by means of a sterilizing medium and inthe absence ofheat which comprises cleaning and sterilizing the vessels, passing themin an endless row to be filled, blowing the residual sterilizing mediumfrom the vessels, filling said vessels, sealing the vessels withsterilized sealing means and maintaining the vessels free from germs,from the time they are cleaned until they are sealed.

2. A method for the germ-free filling and sealing of bottles, vesselsand the like as defined by claim. 1, in which the vessels arelmaintained free from germs by passing them through a germ-free zone,then covering the openings while passing to be filled.

3. A method for the germ-free filling and sealing of bottles, vesselsandthe like as defined by claim 1 in which the vessels are maintainedfree from germs -by passing them through a germ-free enclosure, thencovering the openings thereof with a freshly sterilized covering whilepassing to be filled.

4. A method for the germ-free filling and sealing of bottles, vesselsand the like as defined by claim 1, in which the residual sterilizingmedium is 'blown' out of the bottles by means of a non-reactant gas andmaintaining a pressure on the filling material with the residualnon-reactant gas.

5. A method for the germ-free filling and sealing of bottles, vesselsand the like as defined by claim 1, in which the sealing means aresprayed with a sterilizing fluid, before sealing of the vessels.

6. In adevice for sterilizing, filling and sealing bottles, vessels andthe like, means for conveying said vessels in an endless row, means formaintaining said vessels free from germs in the absence of heat," ameans` for filling said vessels, said filling means being surrounded bya covering means and means for passing a germ-free gas to said coveringmeans.

7. In a device for sterilizing, filling and sealing bottles, vessels andthe like, means for filling said bottles and means for sealing the same,means for conveying said vessels in an endless row to a filling meansand then to a sealing means, inverted U-shaped covering means movingwith said vessels above the said conveying means forming germ-freegerm-free filling and` .chambers and through whioh-themouths of thevessels are adapted tov pass.

by claim 7 in which the sealing means is provided with a covering meansfor covering 4 the mouths of the vessels and means for'passing aerm-free gas into said covering means.

9. n a device for sterilizing, filling and sealing bottles, vessels andthe like, as defined by claim 7 in whicha tube for cleaning gas isconnected to the lling means, a return gas tube from' the filling means,tube passing to a chamber having a filter on one side connecting it, tothe filling supply and a filter on the other side connecting it to theatmosphere.

10. In a device for sterilizin filling and sealin bottles, vessels andthe 1i e, as defined by clalm 7 in which the filling means is providedwith a filling cock having a bore for the liquid, a bore for admittinggas, a bore for the escape of the displaced gases, a bore for balancingthe return gases, 1 nd bore for the removal of the rinsing 11. In adevice for sterilizing, filling, and sealing bottles, vessels and thelike, as dened by clalm 7 in which the sealin means is provided with afeeding chute` or the sealing caps and a means adjacent said feedingchute for spraying said caps with a sterilizing fluid.-

12. In a device for sterilizing, filling andsealing bottles, vessels andthe like the combination of an enclosed sterilizing chamber with anenclosed germ-free chamber, an endless conveying means in said germ-freechamber and oscillatable means pivoted between said chambers for liftingsaid vessels from .the first chamber to the conveyor of the secaflexible means adjacent the ond chamber, second chamber cooperating withthe said endless conveyor to close the openings of said vessels.

13. In a device for sterilizing, filling and sealing bottles, vesselsand the like the combination of an enclosed sterilizing chamber saidreturn gas the cleaning with an enclosed germ-free chamber, an endlessconveying means in said germ-free chamber and oscillatable means pivotedbetween said chambers for lifting saidvessels from the first chamber tothe conveyor of the second chamber, a flexible means adjacent the secondchamber cooperating with the endless conveyor to close the openings ofsaid vessels, a sterilizing receptacle and means for passing said fiexibe means through said sterilizing receptacle.

' In testimony that we' claim the foregoing as our invention, we havesigned our names.

ADAM BHMER. GEORG GEBHARDT.

